It never worked for Wile E. Coyote, so why did an employee of the Tampa Bay Rays think that some fake ACME explosives would propel his team back into the AL East race? Meet William L. Jordan, 38, a mechanic at Tropicana Field who apparently saw the film “The Hurt Locker” one too many times, and thought it would be funny to plant a fake bomb at the stadium for a game with the Boston Red Sox.

Placed in a cabinet near one of the gates, the device was box-like, with wires and blinking lights — very MacGyverish. Police and team officials, however, did not get the joke, and Jordan was arrested.

From the ST. PETERSBURG TIMES:

“His actions were in very poor taste and do not reflect the values of the organization,” Rays vice president Rick Vaughn wrote in an e-mail.

The device was found in a cabinet near Gate 2 by lawn maintenance workers about 2:10 p.m., police said. That area is closed to the public.

The device was a box that was taped to a shelf, had wires sticking out and emitted a “beeping” sound. It was built to look like an explosive device, police said.

Let me just say that I love that Vaughn email more than I can say. It’s the ultimate in official corporate-speak; as if planting a fake bomb would reflect the values of the organization. Please let Mr. Vaughn emphasize, folks, that the Rays also do not condone:

• Screaming “Fire! My God, terrible fire!” over the PA system during the seventh-inning stretch.

• Employees wearing surgical masks and muttering the words “Swine flu.”

• Kissing Joe Maddon on the lips.

No, that’s not the actual bomb in the photo above, by the way. Did you think Boris and Natasha were on the premises?